Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada

Guide to Waterways In and Around Wood Buffalo National Park

General Information

Maps

The most popular scale for maps is 1:250,000. This scale gives good detail on large rivers. The 1:50,000 scale map is useful for particular sections of a river where you need more detail. They are impractical for a long river trip due to cost and bulk

A publication entitled Maps and Wilderness Canoeing is available through the Canada Map Office. It includes an index to the 1:250,000 topographical map series of Canada plus useful information on map usage (specify MCR 107 when ordering).

Permits

A backcountry use permit is required for any overnight stay in Wood Buffalo National Park. This can be obtained from the Visitor Reception Centres in Fort Smith or Fort Chipewyan. A fee will be charged. If you will not be passing through either centre before beginning your trip, a permit may be issued by mail or fax. If this is the case, please mail or fax the following information well in advance: names, addresses, and emergency contact names and numbers for all paddlers, trip dates and itinerary, vehicle make and licence (if applicable), colour of canoe(s), colour of tent(s), any special medical conditions. Your co-operation in this is required - it will help ensure your safety. YOU MUST CHECK IN AT THE PARK OFFICE UPON YOUR RETURN. A search will be initiated if you have not checked in by your indicated return date. Cost recovery may apply to any search and rescue services.

Fishing

Fishing is generally poor in Wood Buffalo National Park. The shallow, muddy lakes are not good habitat for fish and many of the deeper karst lakes, which are fed from groundwater springs, do not have the inflow or outflow channels which fish need for spawning. Whitefish, pike, walleye and goldeye are found in moderate numbers in the large rivers of the park. National park fishing licences (annual or daily) can be purchased at the Visitor Reception Centre in Fort Smith or Fort Chipewyan. Once purchased, they are valid in any Canadian national park for the specified period. The fishing season in Wood Buffalo National Park is from Victoria Day to Oct.15. If fishing outside of the park, territorial or provincial licences will be required.

Motorized Boats

Motorized boats are allowed on the following rivers in Wood Buffalo National Park: Slave, Peace, Embarras, Athabasca, Rivière des Rochers and Quatre Fourches. Motorized boats are not permitted on Lakes Claire or Mamawi except with park use permits or licensed park guides. Contact either Visitor Reception Centre for more information. Please be aware that the availability of guides may vary from year to year.

Drinking Water

The water from the rivers in the park and area is very silty, and should be filtered and boiled before drinking. You should try to bring as much of a water supply as you can.

The following classification is from Canoe Alberta, A Guide To Alberta's Rivers 1978, which is no longer in print.

CLASS OF PADDLER

Class 0: Beginner

Knows all the basic strokes and can competently handle the boat of his/her choice in smooth water.

Class 1: Novice

Open Canadian - Can effectively use all the basic canoe strokes from bow and stern of an open Canadian canoe. Knows the basics of reading water and can negotiate Class I rapids with assurance. White Water - Can effectively use all the basic strokes in a kayak, or single canoe or from the bow or stern of a double canoe. Knows the basics of reading water and can negotiate Class II rapids with assurance.

Class 2: Intermediate

Open Canadian - Can line canoe around rapids; can ferry, set and carry out eddy turns in smooth flowing water and can give assistance to swamped paddlers. Can negotiate Class II rapids with assurance.White Water - Can negotiate fast, turbulent water that requires complex sequential manoeuvring - ferries, sets, and eddy turns, can give assistance to swamped paddlers. Is skillful in both bow and stern of double canoe, or single canoe or kayak, in Class III to IV rapids.

Class 3: Advanced

Open Canadian - Can negotiate fast, turbulent water that requires complex sequential maneuvering - ferries, sets, and eddy turns. Is skillful in both bow and stern of open Canadian canoe, in Class III rapids. White Water - Has proven ability to run Class V rapids in both bow and stern of double canoe, and in a single canoe or kayak.